General Motors is pulling the plug on the Chevrolet Avalanche. 2013 will mark the ugly duckling's last year in production, though the model will go out with one last special edition. The 2013 Black Diamond Avalanche will arrive with body-color trim work, special badging, and most importantly, lower prices. LT trim now boasts a standard rear-view camera, while LS guise adds in rear park assist, power adjustable pedals, fog lights and remote start as standard gear. GM has cut the base vehicle's MSRP by $2,500, which means buyers can take one home for $35,980, excluding the $995 destination fee.

GM says the lower price is a way of saying "thank you" to the truck's fans, though we suspect it may have more to do with getting the awkward machine off dealer lots. Last month, GM moved just 2,083 Avalanche units, and while that's nearly 26 percent more than March 2011, the number represents a fraction of the 36,491 Silverado models that rolled out the door. It's also less than half the number of Tahoe units sold. Even the wee Colorado drove away with more sales. Last year, GM sold a total of 20,088 Avalanche units, down 2.1 percent compared to 2010 despite an overall industry recovery.

Will anyone miss the Avalanche? There are those who still miss the diesel Chevette, so anything's possible.

DETROIT – The Chevrolet Avalanche, which won buyers with trendsetting design and unique features – and helped launch the boom in crew cab pickups – celebrates its final year in production with the 2013 Black Diamond Avalanche.

Black Diamond Avalanches will feature body-colored bed surrounds, a unique badge on the sail panel, additional features on LS and LT models, and lower prices across the lineup.

"More than 580,000 Avalanches have been sold since its introduction in 2001, and Avalanche has won major awards and recognitions throughout its run," said Mark Clawson, Avalanche marketing manager. "So it is only fitting that Avalanche retires on a high note."

"The Chevrolet Avalanche was one of the earliest forays into re-inventing the traditional pickup truck, said Michelle Krebs, senior analyst, Edmunds.com. "It was a vehicle that maintained the traditional truck image and capability but was more versatile for the person buying it for personal use more than work – a lifestyle truck more than a work truck. Other variations on the theme from competitors followed the Avalanche's debut."

"Although Avalanche sales have tapered off in recent years, as crew cabs have grown to dominate Silverado sales, we know there are many Avalanche enthusiasts among Chevy customers," said Clawson. "The Black Diamond Avalanche is our way of saying 'Thank you' and making it just a little more attractive to own one more Avalanche."

Avalanche reshaped the pickup market

When introduced for the 2002 model year, Avalanche offered unique styling and innovative features like a midgate that extended the bed into the cab. Perhaps more important, its overall design proved to be one of those rare ideas that change a segment – a light-duty pickup with comfortable accommodations for five people.

This concept of a well-equipped light-duty pickup that could tow, haul, and carry the family attracted enough interest to generate 93,482 sales in 2003, its third full year of production. Recognizing the appeal of the Avalanche, Chevrolet and other truck makers began developing light-duty crew cab pickups. By 2011, crew cabs accounted for more than 65 percent of light-duty pickup sales, and helped transform the pickup from a workhorse into a true multipurpose family vehicle.

Through it all, Avalanche retained a core of passionate fans who loved its style, comfort, and versatility. Avalanche was named 2002 Motor Trend Truck of the Year upon its introduction, and 2007 Truck of the Year by the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada. Avalanche also has been top choice in a number of consumer publications.

Avalanche at a glance

The Chevrolet Avalanche is one of the industry's more-flexible utility vehicles, combining the passenger-comfort attributes of a SUV with the cargo capability of a truck, thanks to the exclusive Midgate. It opens to extend the cargo-area from 5-foot-3-inch-long (1.6 m) length to 8 feet 2 inches (2.5 m). It is available in LS, LT and LTZ models, with 2WD and 4WD.

Storage compartments alongside the cargo box provide ample and lockable storage with pluggable drains that can be filled with ice and used as coolers.

The Avalanche is based on GM's full-size SUV platform, offering a maximum towing capacity of 8,100 pounds (3,674 kg). It is powered by an efficient combination that includes the Vortec 5.3L V-8 with cylinder-deactivating Active Fuel Management technology and a fuel-saving Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic.

Avalanche also delivers useful technology and comprehensive safety features, including Bluetooth wireless phone connectivity with specific steering wheel controls, standard rear camera system, head curtain side-impact air bags and StabiliTrak electronic stability control. Avalanche offers an integrated brake controller that works with the ABS system to provide immediate and measured brake force signaling to electric-controlled trailer brake systems; there is no requirement for external and/or aftermarket brake control systems.

Avalanche milestones

The Avalanche was introduced at the 2000 North American International Auto Show in Detroit as a concept and was described as a no- compromise Chevy Truck with a unique combination of configurable passenger and cargo space. The production Avalanche was positioned as an Ultimate Utility Vehicle (UUV) when it went on sale in 2001 as a 2002 model

A special Avalanche was equipped to protect and transport the Olympic Flame during the Torch Relay prior to the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City; the relay covered more than 13,500 miles and passed through 46 states on its way to the Olympic Stadium for the Opening Ceremony on Feb. 8, 2002

In addition to receiving Motor Trend's Truck of the Year for 2002, the Avalanche received the Design and Engineering award from Popular Mechanics. Both recognized the vehicle's revolutionary innovation

Chevrolet teamed up with outdoor outfitter North Face and offered a special edition Avalanche in 2002 that was used to transport a team of kayakers through the rugged terrain of the Himalayas to the Tsangpo Gorge in Tibet, where they successfully accomplished first descent of the most-feared whitewater on the planet

In 2006, Chevrolet introduced an all-new Avalanche with a fully boxed frame and redesigned suspension to deliver more refined ride and handling; a new Z71 off-road package was introduced and front featured special off-road tires, unique grille and fascia, an integrated front bumper winch and oversize tow hooks

A 2007 Avalanche was presented to the 2006 Major League Baseball All-Star Game MVP Michael Young of the Texas Rangers

Reported comments and users are reviewed by Autoblog staff 24 hours a day, seven days a week to determine whether they violate Community Guideline. Accounts are penalized for Community Guidelines violations and serious or repeated violations can lead to account termination.

One can only assume the person that wrote this article probably always wanted an Avalanche but couldn't afford it . So he half drowned his self in hater-ade, or should just go drown himself! Anyway the Av' still rocks, '04 Z66, lowered, headers, tuned, soon to be supercharged!!

I lived on the shores of a Lake (after I retired) in Texas (called "Sam Rayburn Lake") & in 2005 I bought a 2005 Avalanche without the armor cladding on the sides, over the years I have owned several Chevy half-ton pickups & I thought they were great trucks until I bought my Avalanche, I have never owned a better truck, it was loaded with a lot options & it was truely a road machine, two years ago we moved to town & that truck in this traffic just got horrorable gas milage...I felt very safe in that Avalanche truck, Chevy sure has improved them a lot but not in the milage department, some body here in Houston , Texas got their self a really find truck...Cadillac came along & produced an Escalade that looks just like an Avalanche & I drove one of those & the only difference that I could see was in the price, naturally the Cadillac model cost a lot more....I think that if Chevy would spend some money to improve the gas milage on the Avalanche they would sell a lot more of them, I hate to see them stop producing the Chevy Avalanche....just my dimes worth......

You guys are idiots! If you want ugly look at the Titan or the Tundra. How about the Honda/Acura crossover? They wish they could sell 5,000 a year of that dog, let alone over 20,000. I have an 08 Avalanche, and the only reason I will buy a 2013 is because it is the last year. My Truck has done everything I need and has never let me down. Get over yourselves!